Eleven named to Business Hall of Fame
Eleven influential business leaders will be inducted into the Junior Achievement’s Business Hall of Fame this spring.
The inductees were announced Wednesday by the Junior Achievement of Peterborough, Lakeland, Muskoka (JA-PL) in the lobby of Venture North on George St.
The 2018 inductees are:
• Alf and June Curtis, founders of Alf Curtis Home Improvements.
• Paul Bennett, owner of Ashburnham Realty.
• John A. McColl, founding partner of McColl Turner LLP, Chartered Professional Accountants.
• James H. Turner, founding partner of McColl Turner LLP, Chartered Professional Accountants.
• John James (Jack) Stewart, founder of J.J. Stewart Motors.
• Sally Harding, president and CEO of Nightingale Nursing Registry and Nightingale Home Maintenance.
• Monika Carmichael, dealer principal and general manager of Trent Valley Honda.
• Robert Gauvreau, president and CEO of Gauvreau and Associates Chartered Professional Accountants.
• Paschal McCloskey, president and CEO of McCloskey International.
• Carl Oake, founding broker/owner of Century 12 United Realty.
Mr. McColl, Mr. Turner and Mr. Stewart will be inducted posthumously.
JA is the largest youth business education organization in Canada, with 16 chapters across the country.
It focuses on educating the next generation of entrepreneurs, providing them with workplace readiness and financial literacy.
The local JA chapter launched its Business Hall of Fame in 2016, inducting eight people. Another eight were added last year.
John McNutt, president and CEO of JA-PLM, said the hall of fame is meant to recognize the community’s legacy in business.
“It lets young people know you can get into business here in Peterborough,” McNutt said. “This is a reminder that those who’ve come before you have done it and opportunities still exist.”
Monika Carmichael bought her family’s business, Trent Valley Honda, 13 years ago. She’d been working at the dealership since 1991.
The mother of one employs 50 staff at the 43-year-old business.
Earning a spot in the Business Hall of Fame was unexpected for Carmichael.
“There are a lot of very honourable, respectable business people that I really admire that are my idols that are here so it’s really special to be part of this group,” said Carmichael, 50.
The Adam Scott Collegiate graduate said she thinks JA’s investment to educating youth in business is incredible.
“That’s what brings tomorrow’s business leaders to the community,” she said.
Robert Gauvreau’s firm has been working with JA for the last few years, sending junior accountants to help high school students learn business skills.
Gauvreau, 35, started his accounting firm in 2008. He now employs 14 staff members.
“Our team has done an incredi- ble job. We’ve grown to a $2 million business in Peterborough, which is something we’re quite proud of,” Gauvreau said.
The Trent University graduate was touched by the turnout of business leaders who showed up to recognize this year’s group of inductees.
“It’s inspiring to see all the people who have laid the footprints for us to go forward in the future,” he said.
The 2018 Business Hall of Fame induction ceremony and culinary showcase is happening May 24 at The Venue.